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Nov. 12, 1929. F. w. F. BERGER,

CASH REGI STER Filed March 5, 1927 gnozufoz Friedrich W. F. Brger 7. 1 8 I l l JigF i 4m 7 III Patented Nov. 12, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRIEDRICH W. F. BERGER, F BERLIN, GERMANY, ASSIGNORTO THE NATIONAL CASH REGISTER COMPANY, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND CASH REGISTER Application filed March 5, 1927, Serial No.

This invention relates to cash registers and more particularly to means for controlling the release ot'certain keys of a cash register or the type shown and described in a United States Letters Patent, No. 1,619,796, granted to Bernis M. Shipley, on March 1, 1927.

One object of this invention is to provide a machine of this type having a plurality of banks of number keys, with a novel means for preventing the release of keys in certain banks at the end of an operation.

Another object is to provide a novel connection between two key release shafts, which may be controlled to cause one shaft to receive the same movement in one direction as the other shatt, so as to lock its section of the keys against depression during an operation oi the machine, but having a smaller extent of movement in the opposite direction than said other shaft, so as not to release its section of keys as said other shaft releases its section of keys.

lVith these and incidental objects in View, the invention includes certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in appended claims and a preferred form or embodiment of which hereinafter described with reference to the drawings which accompuny and form part of the specification.

saidhgures:

big. 1 is a 'iront elevation of the flexible connection between the two release shafts.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1 together with the means for operating it.

Fig. 3 is a side view of one of the banks of number keys. I

Fig. t is an elevation of the mechanism for rocking the release shaft.

General description In machines oi. the type shown and hereinafter described there are, in addition to the banks of amount and control keys, a

173,178, and in Germany March 11, 1926.

of entries is to be made under the same ledger number and when this occurs it would relieve the operator of the necessity of repeatedly depressing the same keys, if the ledger number keys were held in depressed positions throughout the series of entries. This invention therefore provides mechanism adjusted manually, which will prevent the release of the ledger number keys at the end of an operation when the other keys of the machine are released.

However, the invention is also applicable to those machines having an amount keyboard only, which with the aid of my invention, can be so arranged by forming the usual amount key locking and releasing bail in sections, that amount keys controlled by one section of the bail will remain depressed throughout two or more operations of the ma chine, to enable the operator to utilize such keys in the setting up and printing of designating numbers, or amounts as desired, it be ing possible thus to accumulate two series of items simultaneously providing the total of the items on the right-hand section of the machine does not reach such a figure as will cause a transfer to the left hand section of the machine.

For present purposes, the invention will be explained as applied to a ledger number keyboard only, it being understood that its use is not confined to such structure, but that it is applicable to any keyboard of the key-set type. To this end I have contrived a sectional key release mechanism, including a plurality of separate key release shafts, a releasable coupling connecting the shafts so that they may operate together, and a means for disabling the coupling at will to this extent only, that, when the disabling means is effective, the operating means will still actuate both sections of the key release mechanism in one direction to lock all the keys controlled by both sections, against depression but will actuate one section only of the key release mechanism in the opposite direction to cause the key detents controlled by such section to release any depressed keys.

The idea ofproviding a unitary key release mechanism, shiftable in one direction,

to lock the keys against depression and in the opposite direction to effect the release of the depressed keys is shown in United States patent to Shipley 1,619,796, above mentioned, wherein the key release mechanism is shown in the form of bails 164 and 278, operated synchronously, and to the same extent by the other mechanism shown in Fig. 4 of that patent.

These bails, in the Shipley patent above mentioned, are separate members, each mounted on a common shaft 88 (Figs. 4, 6, .8 and 16 of the Shipley patent), which shaft is rocked in one direction from its normal position of rest to lock the keys on the Various keyboards against depression after the machine has been released for operation, and in the opposite direction past its normal position, to release the keys depressed.

St ll referring to the Shipley patent, these ocrations of the key locking and releasing bails are effected as follows:

Any of the numeral keys 130 (Fig. 8 of Shipleys patent) when depressed prior to he release of the machine for operation, are latched in depressed position by the usual denominational detents 142 and 148 pivotally supported on hangers 144 and 145. The upper hangers 144, each carry a rearward extens on lying in the path of the key locking and releasing bail 164, whenthe latter swings in key releasing direction. The keyloc'king and release "bail 164 contacts this extension to shi t the detent 142 and release the depressed key.

Associated with each of said key detents 142 i s a locking plate 143, (Fig. 8 of Shipleys patent) equipped with a series of hooks 161 corresponding in number with the number of keys 130 in its bank or row. Pivoted arms 160 support the locking plates 143 at their upper ends, similar arms (not shown) sup porting the lower ends of the locking plates, the locking plates normally occupying positions wherein the hooks 161 lie outside the paths of studs 162 projecting from the respective keys 130.

Bent fingers 163 projecting from the arms 160 supporting; the upper ends of the locking plates 143, take over the key locking and release .bail 164 on the shaft 88.

Turning to Fig. 16 of Shipleys patent above mentioned, which is similar -to Fig. 3 of the present application, the ledger number keys :136 there shown, each carry a stud 269.

Associated with each bank of ledger number keys is a 'key detent plate 271 mounted on a rocking arm 272 journaled on a shaft 273, 'a spring 274 tending to throw the key detent plate 271 counter clockwise. A hook 279 formed at the upper end of the key detent plate embraces a key locking and release bail 278 carried by the shaft 88, to limit the travel of tin: key detent plate 271 under the influence of the spring 274, the bill of the hook 279 being held in contact with the bail 278, which latter normally lies near the open end of the hook and just beneath but out of line with a fiat face formed on the upper end of the key detent plate 271.

Depression of a key 136 forces its stud 269 against the usual hooked catch 270, each detent plate 271 being provided with a number of catches equal to the number of keys in the row or bank served by such detent plate. The key shifts the detent plate in clockwise direction against the tension of its spring 274 until the stud 269 slips past the hooked head of the catch, whereupon the spring restores the detent plate to normal position, so .as to fit the catch over the stud on the depressed key to hold the key in de pressed position.

By arranging that the bail 278 shall normally occupy a position out of line with the flat face formed at the upper end of the detentplate 271, the plate is free to be crowded in clockwise direction by the key 136 when de pressed.

After the keys representing the amount and ledger number "have been depressed, it is necessary to release the machine for operation which. in Shipley Patent 1,619,796, is accomplished by depressing any of the keys 134 (Figs. 1 and 10).

Each of these keys 134 when depressed, operates to shift a trip member 172 (Fig. 10) clockwise, the trip member 172 being pivotally supported at its upper end by a hanging arm 185 carrying a pin 190 entered in a slot in an arm 191 projecting upwardly from a sleeve-like casting 192 journaled on a cross rod 193. The free end of a latching arm 194 projecting rearwardly from the casting 192 normally lies in the path of a fiat-sided stud 195 projecting from an arm 196 loosely mounted on the shaft 88. An arresting arm 197 projecting from the hub of the arm 196 extends over a pin 198 carried by an arm 199 fast on the shaft 88.

The arm 197 overlying the pin 198 on arm 199 arrests the arm 199 and the shaft 88 against counter clockwise rotation (Fig. 10 of Shipleys patent), because of the normal position of the latching arm 194 in the path of the stud 195 on arm 196 connected with the arresting arm 197.

Depression of any of the release keys 134 will shift the recessed trip member 172 clockwise to rock its supporting hanger 185 counter clockwise, the hanger in turn, rocking the arm 191 and sleeve casting 192 clockwise to displace latching arm. 1.94 from the path of stud 195 on arm 196, thereby freeing the arresting arms 196 and 197 from restraint, so that the shafts 88 will turn counter clockwise under the tension of its spring 233 (Fig. 6 of Shipley, which is similar to Fig. 4 of the present drawings) until arrested by a limiting stud 237. r

The shaft 88, when it rocks counter clockwise, as previously explained, carries with it the key releasing and locking bails 164, (Fig. 8), and 278 (Fig. 16, although in this figure the bail travels clockwise).

The key releasing and locking bail 164 for the amount keys operates against the finger 163 on arm 160 to draw the locking plate 143 in counter clockwisedirection and bring the hooked detents 161 over the pins 162 on the depressed keys 130 to prevent their re lease, and under the pins 162 on the undepressed keys to thereby lock the undepressed keys against depression.

Similarly the key releasing and locking bail 278 for the ledger number keys swings upwardly (in clockwise direction Fig. 16)

to lie in front of the fiat surfaces at the upper,

ends of the detent plates 271,. and thereby prevent release of the depressed keys 136 as well as depression of the undepressed keys, because the presence of the bail 27 8 behind the flat surface of the detent plates 271 prevents'movement of the plates in a direction to either release the depressed keys or to yield to let the studs'269 of the depressed keys pass below the heads of the hook detents 270.

The operator may now turn the crank 120 (Shipleys patent Fig. 1) or depress the motor bar if the machine is provided with one, to effect the operation of the machine which. registers on the totalizers the amount set up on the amount keyboard, and prints such amount together with the number set up on the ledger number keys.

The shaft 88 with its fixed bails 164 and 27 8 is operated as follows, to lock and release the keys: v

The handle 120 turns a shaft 121 (Fig. 6 of Shipleys patent) on which is fixed a pinion 122 in mesh with a gear 123 mounted on a stud 124 and having a cam race 245 formed on one side thereof with two nodes 246, since the pinion 122 turns the gear through half a rotation only at each operation of the machine. y

An arm 241 pivotally mounted on a stud 240 beyond the periphery of the gear 123, carries a roll 244 lying within the cam race 245, and as the gear 123 with its cam race turns a half rotation, it rocks the arm 241 once downwardly and then immediately restores the arm to normal position where it remains until near the end of the next half rotation.

The free end of the arm 241 carries a stud 242 entered in a slot 243 formed in the lower end of a pitman 235, the upper end of which pitman has an elongated slot 234 embracing at its upper end a stud 231 carried by a double arm 230 fast on theshaft 88.

A compression spring 233 located within the slot 234 and bearing against one end wall thereof, presses against stud 231 on the double arm 230 of the shaft 88 to turn the shaft clockwise (in Fig. 6) until arrested by the stud-237 which lies in the path of the opposite end of the double arm, and it is this clockwise throw of shaft 88 and its fixed key locking and releasing bails 164 and 278 when driven by the spring 233, that positions the bails in looking position relatively to the amount and ledger number keyboards, the spring 233 constantly tending to rock the shaft and itsbails to locking position, but being restrained by the latch 194 and arms 196and 197, and as heretofore explained.

The pitman 235 is guided and sup 'iorted at its upper end by the stud 231 and at its lower end by a stud 1395 entered in a bifurcation 1396 formed in the pitman. Also the downward thrust of the pitman, due to the action of the spring 233 is resisted and the pitman is held in its normal position by the stud 242 carried by an arm 241, which stud is accommodated in an offset 247 of the lower slot- 243.

When the pitman is held in this position against longitudinal movement, the extreme upper end of the elongated slot 2 4 in the pitman lies a sufficient distance above the stud 231 of the arm 230 of shaft 88 so that the shaft is permitted a rotation sufficient to locate the bails 164 and 27 8 in their locking positions.

The engagement of the rocking arm 241 with the offset- 247 of the slot 243 in pitman 235 enables the machine to operate the key looking and releasing bails 164 and 278 to a release the depressed keys and permit depression of other keys.

Referring now to the drawings accompanying this application, the ledger number keyboard comprises a suitable number of denominational rows of keys 30, each row generally including keys from O to 9, respectively.

Key s .32 and 33, respectively. Each key of a row or'bank carries a laterally projecting half round stud 34 which cooperates with a hooked and beveled projection on a detent plate 35 carried by a supporting arm pivoted on a shaft 43 mounted in the side frames of the machine, such a detent being provided for each row of keys. Each detent constantly tends to move downwardly due to the action of a spring 36 attached to its lower end. Depression of a key 30 presses the stud 34 thereon against a beveled surface on the corresponding hooked projection of the plate 35 and rocks the detentclockwise against the tension of spring 36 until the stud 34 passes the beveled projection. WVhen this occurs the detent rocks down and holds the key depressed.

Key release At its upper end each detent plate 35 is provided with a hook 37 having a slot 38 formed therein.

As heretofore explained, it has been customary to employ a single key locking and releasing bail positioned in the slots 38 of the several detent plates 35, relating to the ledger number keyboard, and to provide a second bail associated with the amount keyboard, both of which bails are supported and operated by a common shaft.

According to my invention, however, I provide a sectional operating shaft, one section for each key locking and releasing bail, so that each bail, in effect, is supported by its own operating shaft.

Since one bail operates to lock and release the keys of the amount keyboard, and another bail is associated with the keys of the ledger number keyboard, itis obvious that unless otherwise provided, either bail can operate irrespective of the other. But it is highly desirable that all the keys on both keyboards be locked against manipulation after the machine is released for operation.

Also, where a number is not repeated a suificient number of times to make it convenient to retain the keys of such keyboard against release, it is desired to release the keys at every operation of the machine in the usual manner.

Therefore, to meet the first-named requirement, one of the important objects of my invention is to provide a coupling means between the sections of the operating shaft so arranged that all the key locking and releasing bails will swing to key locking position as heretofore, provision being made to permit that bail which coacts with those keys that are to remain depressed through two or more operations of the machine, to merely return to normal position while the bail co-acting with those keys which are to be released will function as heretofore, near the end of each operation of the machine.

And to satisfy the second-named demand, I have contrived a novel coupling means which is readily adjusted to connect or partially disconnect the sections of the operating shaft, so that when connected, the bails will operate in the customary manner, and when partially disconnected, will deprive of its key releasing function only, that bail which coacts with the keys which are to remain depressed, without affecting the key locking function of the bail.

To these ends I have formed the usual key locking and release rod 88 (of Shipleys patent) of two sections 42 and 41 (Fig. 1) and have secured the respective amount and ledger number key locking and release bails each to its respective section only, as in Fig. 3, wherein arms 40, fast on section 41 of the operating shaft, are employed to secure the bail 39 coacting with the ledger number keyboard to the shaft.

As in the particular example selected for illustration, the key locking and release bail for the amount keyboard operates in the usual manner, the drawing has been confined in this particular to the key locking and releasing bail for the ledger number keyboard.

In Fig. 3 the key locking bail 39, 40 for the ledger number keyboard is shown embraced by the open-ended slots 38 formed at the upper end of each of the ledger number key detent plates 85. There is a clearance between the rod 39 and the lower side of the slot 38 so that the detent can be moved upward slightly to permit depression of a key.

Vhen the machine is to be operated it is released by an appropriate key (not shown). The shaft 42 normally tends to rock in clockwise direct-ion (Fig. 4) due to the action of a spring 45 compressedbetween shoulders formed on a link 46 and shoulders formed on two identical guide members 47 lying on opposite sides of the link. These guide members are pivoted at 49 to an arm 48 fast on the release shaft 42. When the shaft 42 is released in a manner wellknown in the art, the spring 45 will rock the arm 48 and shaft 42 until a finger 51 on the arm 48 contacts a stud 52 fast in the side frame of the machine. In this position of the shaft, the locking and releasing rod 39 is located in the paths of fiat faces 350 formed on the upper rear ends of the detent plates 35 to hold the keys against manipulation.

Near the end of the operation of the machine, the link 46 is moved downwardly a suificient distance to rock the arm 48 and shaft 42 counter-clockwise past their normal positions to effect the release of the depressed keys, after which the arm and shaft are permitted to return to normal under the influence of the spring 45. The means for moving the link 46 downwardly includes an arm 55 pivoted on a stud 56 projecting from the side frame. This arm carries a pin 57 which, in adding operations, cooperates with an off set 58, formed in an opening 59 in the link 46. The arm 55 also carries a roller 60 which cooperates with a cam groove 61 formed in the side of a gear 62 mounted on a stud 63 supported by the side frame of the machine. This gear meshes with a smaller gear 64 fast on the main drive shaft 65 of the machine. One rotation of the gear 64 imparts to gear 62 a one half rotation in a counter-clockwise direction. The cam slot 61 has two cam portions 66 so located that one of them will rock the arm 55 first clockwise and then counterclockwise near the end of each operation. When the arm 55 rocks clockwise, the link 46 is lowered and rocks arm 48 and shaft 42 counter-clockwise past their normal positions to effect the release of the depressed amount keys. As soon as the cam portion 66 passes the roll 60 on arm 55, after having imparted a sudden sharp oscillation to the section 42 of the shaft and the amount key locking and releasing bail (not shown) mounted thereon, the link 46 is held in its normal position by arm 55 and the concentric portion of the cam slot 61.

Also the counter clockwise rotation (Fig. 4), of shaft 42 under the influence of the cam 66, arm 55 and link 46,'permits a latch, similar to the latch 194 shown in (Fig. 10) of Shipleys patent, heretofore mentioned, to restore to effective position and hold the shaft 42 and its arm 48 and stud 49 in the positions shown in Fig. 4.

As above noted, it is sometimes desirable to prevent the release of the ledger number keys 30 on certain operations, and it is then only necessary to interrupt the connection between the shaft 42 and shaft 41. This connection will now be described.

Fast on the left hand end of the shaft 41 (as viewed in Fig. 1) is a driven coupling member 75. Fast on the right hand end of shaft 42 is a co-acting coupling member 76. The coupling member 75 has a longitudinally extending slot 77 formed therein and the upper end of the coupling member 76 has formed therein a notch 7 8. When the coupling members 7 5 and 76 are in their normal engaged positions, the lower end of the notch 7 8 registers with the lower end of the slot 77, and a pin 79 carried by a connecting member 80 loosely mounted on shaft 41 by means of a slot 800 (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2) passes through both'the slot and notch, thereby connecting the coupling members 7 5 and 76 and operating shafts 41 and 42 together. One side wall of the notch 78 is extended to form a finger 7 80 which cooperates with the pin 79. The opposite shorter side wall of the notch 78 terminates at one end of a surface 81 concentric with the shaft 42 for a purpose presently to be described.

When it is desired to disconnect the two shafts 41 and 42 to prevent release of the ledger number keys at the end of an operation,

the connecting member 80 is raised far enough to position the coupling pin 79 above the shorter wall of the notch 7 8 in the coupling member 76. The pin now lies in the path of the upwardly extending projection or finger 7 80 on the right hand side of the notch so that when the shaft 42 and its coupling member 76 are released to rock under the influence of the tensioned spring 45, as explained in connection with the Shipley patent, the pin 79, by pressing against the finger 7 80, will rock the driven coupling 76 and with it the shaft 41 to lock the keys 30. At the end of the operation of the machine, as the shaft 42 is moved clockwise (Fig.2) bythe cam portion 66 to release the keys of the amount keyboard, the concentric surface 81 of the coupling 76 fast on the driving shaft 42, will ride under the pin 7 9 of the connecting member 80, and the shaft 41 will not be driven from the shaft 42 and its key section will not be released. Furthermore, the introduction of the concentric surface 81 beneath the pin 79 of the connecting member 80, locks the member in its adjusted position and prevents any tenden-cy of the pin 79 to drop into the path of the coupling member 76 while this connectin member is out of its normal position.

The shaft 41 and its locking and releasing bail 39 are returned to home positions by a restoring lever 82 pivoted on the shaft 41. This lever carries an ear 83 which contacts the upper end of the coupling member 75. The restoring lever 82 constantly tends to rotate in a clockwise direction due to a spring 84 attached thereto. The purpose of this re storing lever 82 is to bring the coupling member 75 back to and yieldingly retain it in its normal position, and for this reason its movement is limited by a stop pin 820 cooperating with its lower end, as shown in Fi 2.

The driven coupling 'member %5, when rocked counter clockwise by the action of finger 780 of the driving coupling member 76, under the influence of the spring 45 to shift the ledger number key bail 39 to locking position, will rock the restoring lever 82 and tension the spring 84.

Upon return of the finger 780 to and past its normal position, the spring 84 restores the coupling member 75 with its shaft 41 and key locking and releasing bail to normal position, the stop pin or abutment 820 preventing farther movement of the restoring lever,but such stop pin does not prevent the rocking of the ledger number bail 39 to release the keys under the control of the shaft 42 when the coupling is effective in both directions of travel.

The stud 79 of the connecting member 80 remains within the closed slot 77 of the driven member 75 of the coupling irrespective of its position relatively to the drive member 76 of the coupling, and the spring 84 in restoring the driven shaft 41 and its key locking and releasing bail 39, causes the driven coupling member 75 to accompany the driving member 76 of the coupling as far as normal position, where the restoring lever. 82 is arrested while the drive member 76, its shaft 42 and key locking and releasing bail (not shown) continue past normal to effect the release of the depressed amount keys.

The means for adjusting the connecting member 80 will now be described. A generally arcuate slot 85 is formed in the lower end of the connecting member 80 into which projects a stud 86 carried by one arm of an intermediate lever 87 pivoted on a stud 88 carried by the frame. The opposite arm of this intermediate lever-carries another pin 89 cooperating with a cam slot 90' formed inan enlarged portion 91 of a control lever 92 suitably pivoted on the machine frame. The upper end 93 of the control lever 92 projects irough an opening in the cabinet 94; in such a position as to be readily accessible to the operator. The slot 85 in the connecting member 80 is so formed that its outer wall is concentric with the key release shaft l2 when the member 80 is in its lower position, and its inner wall is concentric with the shaft 42 when the member 80 is in its raised position. This permits the key release shaft 4.2 to be rocked to release the keys by the well known hand lever (not shown) on the side of the machine, regardless of the position of the coupling member 81.

Also the slot 85 formed in the connecting member 80 is of such shape and length as to permit rocking movement of the connecting member 80 relatively to the stud 86', when the connecting member is driven by the drive shaft 42 and coupling member 76 in either direction.

Operation As shown in Fig. 2, the parts are in the positions they occupy when the ledger number keys are to be released. If it is desired to have the ledger number keys remain depressed through two or more operations of the machine the operator shifts the control lever 93 towards the left as viewed in this figure. The slot 90 in the portion 91 of the control lever will rock the intermediate lever 87 clockwise whereupon the connecting member 80 and coupling pin 79 will be raised a suflicient distance to remove the pin from the notch in the coupling member 76. The movement of the key release shaft 42, when driven by cam portion 66 in the operation of the machine, will not then affect the shaft 41, and therefore, the ledger number keys 30 will not be released.

The concentric surface 81 of the drive member 76 of the coupling prevents any attempt to restore the control lever 92, 93 to normal position at a time when such return would interfere with the proper operation of the machine, such concentric surface remaining in the path of the pin 79 until near the end of the operation of the machine.

At the end of any operation of the machine, the notch 78 lies in register with the slot 7 7 and the control lever maybe shifted to restore the connecting member 80 to its lower position wherein the pin 79 is entered in the notch 78 and the shafts 41 and 42 operate as one in both directions of movement.

It is evident that a coupling mechanism has been devised wherein, even when the coupling members are disconnected, the drive member exercises a control over the driven member in one direction to effect the locking of the keys. which idea is believed to be novel in this class of machines; The coupling is effective to drive the shaft 41 in one direction, and ineffective to drive the shaft 41 in the reverse direction, to release the keys, the spring 84 being provided to restore the coupling member and shaft 11 to normal.

The restoring means 82 which returns the bail 39 and driven. coupling member to normal, also restores the connecting member 80, because the pin 79 occupies the slot 77 in the coupling member. Thus the pin 79 returns to position where it may again enter the notch 78 in the coupling member 7 6 to connect the coupling members.

The concentric surface 81 on the driving member 76 of the coupling is of sutlicient extent to prevent the pin or stud 79 from being shifted toward engaging position at any time when the notch 78 of the driving member is not in position to accommodate the pin.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form of embodiment herein disclosed, for it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What claimed is:

1. In a machine of the class described, in combination with a machine release shaft, and means for operating the same, a key locking and releasing shaft, a connection be tween said shafts for driving the second shaft from the first shaft to first look and then re lease the keys it controls, or to lock and not release said keys, said connection comprising a notched coupling member secured to the first shaft, an extension on one side of the notch in said coupling member, a concentric surface on the other side of the notch in said coupling member, a slotted coupling member secured to the second shaft, a pin lying within the notch and the slot of said coupling members, a connecting member carrying said pin and slidably mounted on said second shaft, a lever cooperating with an arcuate slot in said slidable connecting member, a pin on the lever entered in said slot, an adjustable manipulative lever, a pin and cam slot connection between said levers to shift said slidable connecting member and disengage its in from said notch to clear said corcentrio surface as said manipulative lever moved into its adjusted position. and a spring drawn lever having portion liiearing on said slotted arm on said second key release shafttending to return the slotted arm on the said second key release shaft, and said second key release and slidable member to their home positions.

2. In a machine of the class described, in combination with a plurality of rows of keys, a shaft and means for operating the same in one direction to lock certain rows of keys against depression, and in another direction to release such keys, a second shaft for locking and releasing certain other rows of keys, a connection between the shafts to drive the secondnam'ed shaft with the first named shaft for locking its rows of keys as the first-named shaft locks its rows of keys and for releasing its rows of keys as said first-named shaft is moved to release the keys in its associated rows, and means for controlling said connection to prevent communication of motion from the firstnamed shaft to the second-named shaft as the first-named "shaft moves to release the keys in its associated rows.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a machine release shaft, a key locking and releasing shaft, means connecting the shafts to cause the latter to move with the former as the former turns in one direction to release the machine, means to control the, connecting means to prevent the said former shaft from driving said latter shaft in the opposite direction, and means for returning said latter shaft to its home position when not returned to its home position by said former shaft.

4. In a machine of the class described, hav

ing a plurality of rows of depressible keys; and means associated with each row of keys to detain the operated keys in depressed positions; of a sectional key locking and releasing mechanism shiftable in one direction to a position to lock the detaining means against movement, and in another direction to another position to actuate the detaining means to release the depressed keys; a coupling to connect the sections of the key lockin 'and releasing mechanism; and means to render the coupling ineffective in one of its directionsof movement.

5. In a machine of the class described, having a plurality of rows of depressible keys; and means associated with each row of keys to detain the operated keys in depressed positions; of a sectional key locking and releasing mechanism shiftable in one direction to lock the detaining mechanism against release, and in the opposite direction to release the detaining means; a coupling to connect the sections of the key locking and releasing mechanism; and means to render the coupling ineffective in one of its directions of movement.

6. In a machine of the class described, having a plurality of rows of depressible keys; and means associated with each row of keys to detain the operated keys in depressed positions; of a sectional key locking and releasing mechanism shiftable to one position to lock the depressed keys against release and prevent depression of other keys, and to another position to release the depressed keys; and means to disable a section of the key locking and releasing mechanism as to one of its functions only.

7. In a machine of the class described, having a'plurality of rows of depressible keys; and means associated with each row of keys to detain the operated keys in depressed positions; of a sectional key locking and releasing mechanism shiftable to one position to lock the depressed keys against release and prevent depression of other keys, and to another position to release the depressed keys; and means to disablea section of the key locking and releasing mechanism as to its key releasing function.

8. In a machine of the class described, having aplurality ofrows of depressible keys and means associated with each row of keys to detain the operated keys in depressed positions; of a sectional key locking and releasing mechanism shiftable in one direction to one position to lockthe depressedkeys against release and prevent depression of other keys, and in another direction to another position to release the depressed keys; a coupling to connect the sections of the key locking and releasing mechanism; and means to render the coupling ineffective in one of its directions of movement to render at least one section inoperative as to one of its functions.

9. In a machine of the class described, having a plurality of rows of depressible keys; and means associated with each row of keys to detain the operated keys in depressed positions; of a sectional key locking and releasing mechanism shiftable in one direction to one position to lock the depressed keys against release and prevent depression of other keys,

and in another direction to another position i to release the depressed keys, a coupling to connect the sections of the key locking and releasing mechanism; means to render the coupling inelfective in one of its directions of movement to render one section ineifective to release the keys with which it is associated while remaining effective to look its keys.

10. In a machine of the class described, having a plurality of rows of depressible keys; and means associated with each row of keys to detain the operated keys in depressed positions; of a sectional key locking and releasing mechanism shiftable in one direction to one position to lock the depressed keys against release and prevent depression of other keys, and in another direction to another position to release the depressed keys, the sections of the key locking and releasing mechanism adapted to control their respective banksof keys; a coupling to connect the sections of the key locking and releasing; mechanism; means to render the coupling ineffective in one of its directions of movement to prevent one section from releasing the keys in the respective banks controlled by it and permit such section to lock the keys in its respective banks.

11. In a machine of the class described, having a plurality of rows of depressible keys; and means associated With each row of keys to detain the operated keys in depressed positiens; of a sectional key locking and releasing mechanism shiftable in one direction to one position to lock the depressed keys against release and prevent depression of other keys, and in another direction to another position to release the depressed keys; means to shift the key locking and releasing mechanism to each of its positions and to return it to normal; a coupling to connect the sections of the key locking and releasing mechanism and means to render the coupling ineffective in one of its directions of movement to prevent operation of one of the sections of the key locking and releasing mechanism to releasing position.

12. In a machine of the class described, having a plurality of rows of depressible keys; and means associated With each row of keys to detain the operated keys in depressed positions; of a sectional key locking and releasing mechanism shiftable in one direction to one position to lock the depressed keys against release and prevent depression of other keys, and in another direction to another position to release the depressed keys; means to shift the key locking and releasing mechanism to locking position; means to shift the key locking and releasing mechanism to release the keys and then return it to normal; and means to render the coupling ineffective in one of its directions of movement to render the means for shifting the key locking and releasing mechanism to release the keys ineffective as to one section.

13. In a machine of the class described, having a plurality of rows of depressible keys; and means associated with each row of keys to detain the operated keys in depressed positions; of a sectional key locking and releasing mechanism shiftable in one direction to one position to lock the depressed keys against release and prevent depression of otherkeys, and in another direction to another position to release the depressed keys; means to shift the key locking and releasing mechanism to locking position; means to shift the key locking and releasing mechanis n to release the keys and then return it to normal; means to render the coupling ineffective in one of its directions of movement to render the means for shifting the key locking and releasing mechanism to release the keys ineffective as to one section; and means to restore the ineffective section of the key locking and releasing mechanism to normal position.

14:. In a machine of the class described, having a plurality of rows of depressible keys;

and means associated With each row of keys to detain the operated keys in depressed positions; of a sectional key locking and releasing mechanism shiftable in one direction to one position to lock the depressed keys against release and prevent depression of other keys, and in another direction to another position to release the depressed keys, means to shift the key locking and releasing mechanism to locking position; means to shift the key looking and releasing mechanism to release the keys and then return it to normal; means to render the coupling ineffective in one of its directions of movement to render the means for shifting the key locking and releasing mechanism to release the keys ineffective as to one section; and means to automatically restore the ineffective section of the key locking and releasing mechanism from its key locking position to its normal position.

15. In a machine of the class described, having a plurality of rows of depressible keys; and means associated with each row of keys to detain the operated keys in depressed p0sitions; of a sectional key locking and releasing mechanism shiftable to one position to lock the depressed keys against release and prevent depression of other keys, and to another position to release the depressed keys; :1 coupling to connect the sections of the key locking and releasing mechanism, including a driving coupling member, a driven coupling member, and a connecting member in constant engage ment with one of the coupling members; the other of said coupling members having a re cess removably engaged by the connecting member; and means on the 1ast-named coupling member to maintain engagement with the connectincr member in one direction of movement of the parts.

16. In a machine of the class described, having a plurality of rows of depressible keys; and means associated With each row of keys to detain the operated keys in depressed positions; of a sectional key locking and releasing mechanism shiftable to one position to lock the depressed keys against release and prevent depression of other keys, and to another position to release thedepressed keys; a coupling to connect the sections of the key locking and releasing mechanism, including a driving coupling member, a driven coupling member, and a connecting member in constant engagement With one of the coupling members; the other of said coupling members having a recess removably engaged by the connecting member; an extension on the last-named coupling member to maintain engagement with the connecting member in one direction of movement of the parts; and means to restore a section of the key locking and release mechanism, and the connecting means to normal.

17 i In a machine of'the class described, having a plurality of rows of keys; and means associated with each row of keys to detain the depressed keys in operated positions; a sectional key locking and releasing mechanism shiftable in one direction to one position to lock the depressed keys against release and prevent depression of other keys, and in another direction to another position to release the depressed keys and means to drive one section of the key locking and releasing mechanism; of a coupling mechanism including a driving couplingmember; a driven coupling member; and a connecting member to normally transmit motion from the driving coupling to the driven coupling, and shiftable to disconnect the two coupling members when the driving coupling member moves in one direction; and means on one of the coupling members to prevent restoration of the connectlng member to completely efiective position when the coupling members are out of normal positions.

18. In a machine of the class described, having a plurality of rows of keys; and means associated wit-h each row of keys to detain the depressed keys in operated positions; a sectional key locking and releasing mechanism shiftable in one direction to one position to lock the depressed keys against release and prevent depression of other keys, and in another direction to another position to release the depressed keys; and means to drive one section of the key locking and releasing mechanism; of a coupling mechanism including a driving coupling member; a driven coupling member; and a connecting member to normally transmit motion from the driving coupling to the driven coupling, and shiftable to disconnect the two coupling members when the driving coupling member moves in one direction; means on one of the coupling members to prevent restoration of the connecting member to completely effective position when the coupling members are out of normal positions; and separate means to restore the driven section of the key locking and releasing mechanism to normal position.

19. In a machine of the class described, having a plurality of rows of keys; the combination of a plurality of key locking and releasing mechanisms, each adapted to co-act with its respective rows of keys only; the key locking and releasing mechanisms normally occupying positions intermediate their limits of travel; means to drive one of the key locking and releasing mechanisms to one limit of its movement; means to drive the same key locking and releasing mechanism to the opposite limit of its travel and to return it to normal position; disconnectible coupling members to releasably connect the key locking and releasing mechanisms; means to disconnect the coupling members to permit one member to move in one direction without moving the other member and means carried by one of the coupling members to actuate the co-acting coupling member to drive the disconnected key locking and releasing mechanism to one limit of its travel.

20. In a machine of the class described,

having a plurality of rows of keys; the combination of a plurality of key locking and releasing mechanisms, each adapted to co-act with its respective rows of keys only; the key locking and releasing mechanisms normally occupying positions intermediate their limits of travel; means to drive one of the key locking and releasing mechanisms to one limit of its movement; means to drive the same,

key locking and releasing mechanism to the opposite limit of its travel and to return it to normal position; disconnectible coupling members to releasably connect the key locking and releasing mechanisms; means to disconnect the coupling members to permit one coupling member to move in one direction without moving the other coupling member; means carried by one of the coupling mem: bers to actuate the co-acting coupling member to drive the disconnected key locking and releasing mechanism to one limit of its travel; and means to restore the disconnected coupling member and its key locking and releasing mechanism, to normal position.

21. In a machine of the class described, having a plurality of rows of keys; and means associated with each row of keys to detain the operated keys in set positions; of a sectional key releasing mechanism, including independent shafts; coupling members fast on the respective sections of the key releasing mechanism; a connecting member shiftably mounted on one of the shafts and adapted to connect the coupling members; the connecting member having a slot formed therein, the outer side wall of which is concentric with the shaft on which the connecting member is mounted, when the connecting member is in one of its adjusted positions, the inner wall of the slot being concentric with the supportingshaft when the connecting memher is in the other of its adjusted positions; and manually operable means, including a projection entered in the slot in the connecting member, to shift the connecting member.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

FRIEDRICH W. F. BERGER. 

